Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-03-26
ATTENTION. TO STRANGERS.

Within the last ten days forty carloads
Of excursionists have arrived in the cen
trail part of the State from the East, and
these are distinct from those of the
normal travel. All these people come to
see the State; neither business nor neces-
sity brings them here. They come at a
propitious time, will examine California at
its best, and find its people fairly prosper
Gus and contented. These excursionists
are but the advance guard of the army Of
several thousands we have every reason to
expect between this date and the lst of
next October. Very much Of our future
prosperity depends upon the treatment
these strangers will receive. They should
be given knowledge of the exact facts con-
corning the State. There has been dan
ger in the past of injury to California by
exaggeration of her advantages, resources
and climate, for unquestionably the repu-
tation Californians have at the East for
drawing the long bow has some foundation
in fact. To impress the stranger favor
ably, we need to represent California in
truthful recital only. 1t is better to curb
fancy and shoot below the mark than ex-
cite the suspicion that we are nervously
solieitous to secure the good opinion of the
visitors. Among other things, we should
be diligent in securing some sort of organ
ization in every considerable community,
to pay some special attention to strangers
as they go into valley and foothill
to spy out the land. 1t is a matter of much
Importance to the visitor to be well re-
ceived and correctly informed. In every
railroad town there ought to be citizens
reception committee to meet tourists,
escort them, or direct them to points of in
terest, as the needs may determine, and to
give them such practical information as
they desire. This plan was adopted in
Southern California FIVE years ago, and its
results are patent 1t costs little money,
some self-saerifce, and good deal of pub
lie spirit. But every man owes something
to the community in which he lives, and
that he can most easily pay is the duty
doing attention to strangers involves. The
results of such conduct are always happy
for the community, and pay it roundly.
We know, for instance, of group of thirty
home-seekers and strangers, who not long
ago landed in Sacramento, and but for the
public spirit of one citizen would have
gone away with very incorrect impressions
and limited knowledge of the city and its
vicinity But the forethought and public
spirit of one man were the means of giving
the visitors correct information, view of
our residence streets, and visit to some of
the most desirable cultivated lands ada
cent to the city. That little attention has
resulted benefcially already, in adding to
the population some valuable citizens of
considerable means, and prospectiyely of
giving US quite colony of desirable peo-
pie in the near future. 1t viii pay US, if
no other than financial consideration is
taken into account, to well receive the
coming strangers, and show them some
special attention. 1t can be best done by
organization. Every newcomer received
by an authorized committee, representing
the whole people, viii become an advocate
of the truth concerning Us, to publish
abroad the claims we make, and to bear
witness to their strength.